Former NYPD detective charged in fatal George Washington Bridge shooting free on bail

The former NYPD detective charged with fatally shooting a man on the George Washington Bridge during an alleged road rage incident has posted bail, records show.

Victor Romero, 62, of Haverstraw in Rockland County, allegedly shot Koran Irvine, 46, a father of two from Valley Cottage, also in Rockland County, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday during a confrontation on the upper level of the bridge, prosecutors said. Romero and Irvine nearly collided as they approached the bridge, then Romero tailgated Irvine, pulled up to his side, and shot into his car, according to prosecutors.

Irvine, whose children are 11 and 14 years old, was on his way home Tuesday from his job with Con Edison. Romero, who worked in private security and for a luxury transport company, returned to work in Manhattan the next day. Police recovered two handguns while searching his home, and arrested him on Wednesday.

Police initially charged Romero with murder. The charge was later downgraded to manslaughter.

In Manhattan Criminal Court last week, Judge Kevin McGrath Jr. set Romero’s bail at $1 million.

"He is accused of a particularly senseless killing," Assistant District Attorney Matt Sears said in court last week.

Alan Abramson, Romero’s attorney, could not be reached for comment Sunday. He previously described the fatal shooting as "a tragedy." Abramson also called Romero "a hero police officer" who received an NYPD award after being injured in a June 2000 shooting.

Keith White, the lawyer for the estate of Irvine and his family, issued a statement saying he was " deeply disappointed" in Romero's release.

"The DA’s failure to prosecute this crime for second degree murder is a historic sign of weakness, bias and class based violence," White said. "We are calling on the mayor to communicate with the family and we are requesting an independent and unbiased investigation by Attorney General Tish James." 

Romero retired from the NYPD in 2001 after seven years of service. In June 2000, while off-duty, Romero was in a gunfight with several men attempting to rob his family’s laundromat in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He suffered gunshot wounds to his hand and chest, and shot two of the three suspected robbers eight times, police said at the time.

While seeking Romero’s bail last week, Sears, the assistant district attorney, said Romero "left the scene. He did not call 911, and he did not turn himself in."

Romero posted bail two days after his arrest, records show.